Locking snap fastener



April 19, 193s.

L RosEMAN LOCKING SNAP FASTENER Filed oct. 19, 195e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN NTOR -Illilllallil I- ilil! 6 -wIlJuwlbuHlWmInNmHM ..-1-11.

M A ORNEY BY Y J0 I7/ 1 1 ROSEMAN 19, 1938. I .OCKING SNAP FASTENER sheet 2 2 sheets Filed oct 4 Parametri-Apr. 19, 193s UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING SNAP rAsrENEn Leo Roseman, Newark, N. J. Application amber 19, 1936, serial No. 106,326 5 claims. (c1. z-zcs) This invention relates in general to fasteners of the head and socket or snap type, and especially to fasteners for garments such as corsets, brassires, shirts and the 1ike.`

There are four common forms of garment fasteners, onetype is a hook and eye wherein the Acommon plane of theshank and the bill of the hook as well as the axis of the eye are perpendicular to the general plane of the garment edges and the hooks and eyes are connected and disconnected by a compound movement of the garment edges in a direction parallel to the general plane of the garment edges and in a direction perpendicular to said general plane. Another type is the head and socket fastener wherein the axis of the head and socket are perpendicular to the general plane of the garment edges, and said edges must be overlapped to connect the heads and sockets while the heads and sockets must be moved in planes perpendicular to the general planes of the garment edges for connecting and disconnecting the heads and sockets. A third type is the so-called slide operated or zipper type which requires a slider for .connecting and disconnecting the fastener elements. A fourth is the button-and buttonhole type which requires overlapping of theedges of the garment and insertion of the buttons through buttonholes.

The hook and eye type, the head and socket type and the button and buttonhole type have among other things the disadvantage of bulkiness and the forming of protuberances uncomfortable to the wearer. Moreover it is frequently diicult to connect and disconnect the complemental fasteners, the complemental fasteners may become accidentally separated, the hooks and eyes when the garment edges are not under `tension and the heads and sockets when the garment edges are placed under too great a tension tending to separate them. Furthermore, the

operation of connecting and disconnecting the complemental fasteners is slow and tedious. The zipper type causes puckering of the garment, is frequently stiif due to the closely arranged metal fasteners, and especially in tight fitting garments the slider is frequently diiiicult if not impossible to operate. Moreover, the slider causes a protuberance which is visible beneath thin outer garments.

Therefore, a prime object of my invention is to provide a fastener embodying novel and improved features of construction which shall overcome the 'above-mentioned difficulties and disadvantages, shall be `thin or have minimum bulk, and shallhave the complemental fastener eleeral planes of said edge portions, similar to the ing in a direction approximately perpendicular ments connectible in the general planes of the garment edges in a single movement in directions approximately perpendicular to said edges with said edges in approximately abutting relation, and the complemental fastener elements 5 shall be positively locked against accidental disconnection.

Another object is to provide such a fastener which shall be exible and'easy to operate, and shall permit disconnection of all complemental 10 fastener elements quickly at one time and in one simple relative movement or pulling apart of the edge portions of the garment from one end toward the other in directions at angles to the genmovement incident to ripping or tearing oftextile fabric.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved fastener of the general character described which shall include the edge portions of garments or farbric tapes having stud elements 20 and complemental socket elements secured along the longitudinal edges thereof by stitching, each stud element being formed of sheet metal and having a flat base and a shank projecting therefrom perpendicular-to the edge of the respective 5 garment portion or tape and parallel to the general planes thereof and provided .with a head having a lateral shoulder or projection extendto the plane of the flat base and said garment 0 ply sliding the shank of the stud element between the jaws to spread them and then permitting them to snap over said head and cause said shoulder to interlock with said recess, and the two elements can be easily disconnected by a slight relative twist or rotation of the two elements about an axis approximately perpendicular to the edges of the garment or'tapes or about an axis disposed longitudinally of the stud shank to move said shoulder out of the recess.

Further objects are to provide such a novel and improved fastener wherein the fastener elements shall be secured between plies of fabric so that the stud elements and socket elements when the other articles; and to provide suchjaQfastener wherein the fastener elements shall have shoulders at opposite sides of the engaging portions thereof abutting a line of stitching or a fold in the fabric to evenly and widely distribute the strains imposed on said elements. l

Other objects are to provide a fastener of this character wherein the socket elements shall be disposed wholly inwardly of the edge of the garment edge or tape and the edges' of the garment or .tapes shall be firmly secured to the respective fastener elements in close proximity to the engaging portions of the stud elements and socket elements to ensure relative twisting or rotation of the complementa! fastener elements with a minimum of strain upon the garment edge portions or tapes upon relative movement or pulling apart of the edge portions of the garment or the tapes in directions at angles to the general planes thereof; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fastener embodying my invention showing the manner of separating the complemental fastener elements.

Figure 2 is an enlarged composite plan view of the 'complemental socket element and stud element parts of the fastener in separated condition. y

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the fastener with the stud elements and socket elements connected, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the manner of disconnecting the complemental stud elements and socket elements.

Figure 6 is a composite perspective view of a l socket element and complemental stud element.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the-socket element and complemental stud element connected together. l

Figure 8 is a view similar to .Figure 2 showing 'a modification of the invention.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure 8. v

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view showing the complemental socket` element and stud element connected together.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the complementa] parts of the fastener separated.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the `socket element part in tape form.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectiona1 view through ken away for clearness in illustration.

A v 2,114,429 garment edge portions or tapes fareg conm'ected` shall be concealed and prevented.fromcontacting with' the flesh or clothing of the wearerand from n vbecoming accidentally caught or snagged on Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view throug'h the form shown in Figure 12 slightlyymodifled. and f Figure 17 isa front elevation oi' socket elements shown in Figure.

The invention. contemplates the r` attachment of the complemental stud element`s` iand socket elements directly to the edges of :a: garment or other article tobe connected, or theattachment of the socket elements and stud elements to fabric tapes which are in turn secured'to the edges of garments or other articles.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the ref# erence characters A and B designate the edge portions of a garment or article to be connected,

vone of the i said edgeportions having secured thereto respectively socket elements I and stud elements 2. As shown, the fastener elements are secured between the undersides of thev garmentedge portions A and B and fabric strips 3, whereby the fastener elements are disposed between plies of fabric.

Each socket element includes a single piece of spring sheet material folded upon itself at 4 to form a fiat base having two opposed jaws 5 and 6 each of which has a tongue I projecting from the free edge thereof and intermediate its width. One edge of one jaw is bent at an angle to the general plane of the jaw at 8 and overlies the free edge of the other jaw 'at opposite sides of the tongues 1, so as to form shoulders and eliminate thin or sharp edges. y

The socket elements are secured on the garment edges preferably in equidistantly spaced relation longitudinally of said edges with the openings between the jaws facing towardthe edge of the garment and the tongues 'I projecting from between the garment edge portion A and the corresponding fabric strip 3. The socket elements may be secured to the garment edge and strip in any suitable way, but preferably as shown the garment edge portion is folded underas at 9 and a line of stitches l0 runs longitudinally of the garment edge in abutting relation to the forward edges or shoulders 8 of the fastener elements and penetrates the strip 3 and the ply 9 of the garment edge, whereby the stitches are concealed by the main or upper portion of the garment edge. Preferably the line of stitches is formed to provide gaps through which the tongues of the socket elements project and reenforcing. stitches II are formed at opposite sides of the gaps. The stitches Ill and II run along and are abutted by the forward edges of the bases of the socket elements to hold the elements from being pulled from between the garment edge portion and the strip, and a line of stitches I2 passes through the garment edge and strip 3 at the rear edges or edges of the bases opposite the stitches IllA so as to cooperatepwith the stitches I0 to firmly hold the socket elements in position against movement laterally of the garment edge. Movement of the socket elements longitudinally of the garment edge is prevented by the location of the tongues 'I in the gaps.

To temporarily hold the socket elements in the gaps prior to formation of the line of stitches I2. the bases of the tongues are notched or reduced in width at I3 so that the tongues are heldin the gaps by frictional engagement between the tongues and the fabric at the ends of the gaps.

Each of the hook elements' 2 includes a at" base I4 having la shank I5 rectangular in cross section and projecting from one edgethereof intermediate ,its ends and having flat sides IB and a bulbous or ball-like rigid head formed with a shoulder I6 at one side projecting from one side of the shank at one side of the base and facing toward the base, the rounded surface of the head being approximately flush with the other sides of the shank. 'I'he bases of the stud elements are secured between the corresponding garment edge and the strip 3 in the same manner that the socket elements are secured between the garment edge A andits strip 3, the Shanks of the studs projecting from the garment edge through gaps formed by the line of stitches I1 corresponding to the stitches I0, and the Vshanlts being held againstdisplacement from the gaps by the line of stitches I8 corresponding to the stitches I2.

Each stud element is complemental to one socket element, and each socket element has in at least one jaw a recess or opening or catch I! to receive the head or shoulder I6 of the corresponding stud element. l

In connecting the complemental stud elements and socket elements, the garment edges are moved edgewise toward each other in ltheir own planes so as to insert the stud Shanks-between the jaws of the corresponding socket elements, the jaws being sprung apart as the stud shanks are inserted and then snapping over the shoulders I 6.

to cause interlocking engagement of the edges of the openings I9 with said shoulders. 'I'he stud elements and socket elements are thereby positivelyV vinterlocked with eachother, and when thus connected together, the complemental stud elements and socket elements will eifectually withstand all strains 4tending to pull the edges apart in their own planes, which is especially im" portant in tight fitting garments such as corsets. 'I'he .connection of the complemental fastener elements can be effected easily and quickly, the

tongues 'l effectually guiding the stud shanks between the jaws of the socket elements, and if desired the tongues may be transversely curved at 2D (see Figures 11 and 17) to form` in effect a mouth to accurately guide the stud shanks between the jaws.

An important feature of the invention is that the complemental socket elements and stud elel ments may be separated in a continuous operation I by oppositely directed pulls on the garment edges in Figures 1 and 5. 'This relative movement of the garment edges during separation of the fastener elements is similar to that of ripping fabric or a seam as clearly-shown in Figure- 1, and per-- mits easy and rapid disconnection of the garment edges which is especially desirable in tight fitting garments such as corsets. The fastener elements when connected are heid against such rotation by the garment edge portions and the engagement of the jaws 5 and 6 with the fiat sides I 5a of the stud Shanks.

As shown, the edges of the stud shanks I5.,may 4 be beveled .as at I9a to spring apart the' jaws 5 and 6 of the socket elements upon such relative rotation Aof the stud elementsand socket elements, whereby complete disengagement of shoulders I6 from the recesses I3 is ensured and the spring action of the jaws on said beveled edges will tend to ejecttlie stud shanks from between the jaws.

While I have shown one' shoulder I6 on each stud element at one side thereof, another shoulder might be formed on the opposite side of the` shank, and 1 both jaws of the socket elements could be formed with openings or recesses, one for each shoulder on the stud shank.

A modication of the invention is shown in -tack stitches 26 may form continuations of the lines of stitches 21 which correspond to the lines of stitches III shown in Figure 2. l

The stud elements of this form of the invention are otherwise the same as the stud elements 2, but the socket elements differ in structure from the socket elements I'. As shown, each socket element includes a `single sheet of spring material folded upon itself and having a split tubular` formation 23 at the fold to provide a maximum of resiliency for the opposed jaws 29 and 30. One jaw 23 is reduced in width at 3|, and carries-the recess 32 to cooperate with the shoulder of the complemental stud. The'edge portions of the other jaw at opposite sides of the reduced portion 3l are returned upon the jaw as at 33 to form rounded shoulders to abut the stitches 21 and to reenforce the jaw. The openings 25 are formed throughthe main portion and returned portions 33 of the jaw. The returned portions 33 form between them a guide for the shank of a stud element. 'Ihe jaws 29 and 30 have integral tongues 34 which project from between garment edge portion and-the corresponding strip If desired the fastener may be in the form ofV a tape as shownin Figure 12 where the tape comprises two strips 35 and 36 between which the fastener elements are secured. Also, instead of disposing the fastener elements between .the

, garment edge portions and the strip 3 or between the two strips 35 and'36 of the tape, the garment edge portion or the strip 36 may have slits 31 at y, the fold through which the tongues of the socket elements or the shanks of the stud elements may project, whereby the shoulders of the fastener elements will abut the fold at opposite sides of the corresponding slits. l

A further modification is shown in Figure 15` where the tape is formed of a single strip of fabric and has one edge portion folded inwardly to form a ply 39 and then outwardly to form another ply 40, the other edge portion of the with slits 43 through which the tongues of the A socket elements or the hooks of .the hook elements project. 'Ihe fastener elements are disposed between the plies 39 and 40 with their shoulders abutting the fold between said plies. A line of stitches 44 may be provided longitudinally in the strip before the ply 42 is folded over the ply 40, said stitches passing through all of the plies 42, 4I and 33. Preferably the line of stitches 44 will have tack stitches 43 passing 4ble stitches on the face of the connected edge.'

through the openings 25 of the fastener elements. With this construction a strong durable tape is provided wherein the strains imposed on the fastener elements when connected together are assumed by the double thickness of material at the folds between'plies 39 and 40 and plies 4| and 42, and by the stitches 44 and 45.

In many instances it is desirable to avoid visiportions of a garment opening. In Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the stitches I0 are in- 'visible but the stitches I2 are visible in passing through both plies of the garment edge portion and through the strip 3. If desired, both lines Aof stitches `might be concealed, for example as shown in Figures 8 and 9 Where the line of stitches 46 corresponding to the stitches I2 passes through only the underply 9 of the garment edge portion and the strip 3 so that the line of stitches is concealed by the main or outer ply .of the garment edge portion. It will be observed that with the stitches so arranged the inner edge of the strlp'3 and the underply 9 are free to pull away from the main ply. However, due to the location of the fastener elements at the edge of the garment the strains imposed on the fastener elements when they are connected are related to the garment edge portion so as to overcome the tendency of the strip 3 and underply of the garment edge to pull away from the main ply of the garment. This is in contrast to for example ordinary head and socket fasteners wherein the axes of the head and socket fasteners are perpendicular to the planes of the garment edge portions, and in which .the strains on the garment fasteners, when the fasteners are connected, pull the strip and underply of the garment edge portion carrying the fastener elementsl into a position approximately at right angles to the plane of the garment edge, whereby the fasteners may easily accidentally separate and bulkiness at the garment edges is produced.

Due to the construction and arrangement of my fastener elements, only a light or small spring action is required in the jaws of the socket elements to hold thestud elements securely interlocked with the socket elements so that the fastener elements may be made small and flat to provide a minimum of bulkiness at the garment edge portions and ensure smooth at surfaces which will not be visible through thin outer garments. This is further advantageous in .that during laundering, mangling and ironing of the garments, no obstruction is caused by the fastener elements and furthermore in ironing a garment the jaws of the socket elements are pressed together to ensure subsequent secure interlock with the stud elements.

To facilitate insertion of the stud elements into the socket elements the eremities of the tongues of the jaws of the socket elements may be returned around and over the corresponding edges of the garment and the strip 3 as indicatedvat 41 in Figure 6 and where desiredthe tongue which is located at the outer side of the garment may carry a suitable ornament 48;

Other modifications in the details of structure of the fastener elements and in the manner of securing them to the garment edge. article or tape, will occur .to those skilled in the art as within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The socket elements and the stud elements per se are described and claimed in my co-pending application SerialNo. 192,702.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

1. In a fastener, the combination of two pieces of pliable material disposed'in edgewise approximately abuttingV relation, separable stud fastener elements secured on one of said pieces in spaced relationlongitudinally thereof with a portion pro- :iecting from the edge of saidl piece to engage a complemental fastener element, and separable socket fastener elements complemental to the first-mentioned fastener elements secured on the other piece each having a spring socket opening ,toward the edge of said piece to receive and interlock with the engaging'portion of the complemental fastener element upon movement of said 1 pieces edgewise toward each other with the complemental elements in a'certain relation to each other, al1 ofsaid stud elements being releasable from the'complemental socket elements in one continuous operation upon relative rotation of the stud and socket elements about axes approximately-perpendicular to the edges of said pieces of material and parallel to the general plane of at least one piece by oppositely directed forces exerted on the edges of said pieces invdirections at angles to the planes of the pieces.

2. In a separable fastener, the combination of two pieces of pliable material each formed of a plurality of plies of material, one or more separate stud elements each having an approximately fiat base and a shank projecting from one edge of the base between the ends thereof whereby said edge forms shoulders at opposite sides of said shank, the extremity of the shankl being provided with a bulbous rigid head having a shoulder extending from one side of the shank ai one side of the base and facing the base, said stud elements'being secured on oneof said pieces of material and between two plies thereof with said shanks projecting from between said plies, one or more separate approximately fiat spring socket elements between two plies of the other piece of material, each having opposed spring jaws-connected together at one end with their other ends free and opening between said two plies to receive the shank of one of' said stud elements between them, at least one jaw of each socket element having a catch to interlock with said shoulder of the corresponding stud shank when said elements are in a certain relation to each other and positively hold the stud element and socket elementagainst separation by pulls in oPDQSie directions parallel to the planes of said socket elements and said Shanks, the heads of y catch, and means penetrating said two plies of each piece ofA material between the edges thereof` and said shoulders of the bases of the stud elements and said shoulders of the socket elements respectively to resist strains tending to pull said fastener elements from between the plies of the respective pieces of material when the complemental stud and socket elements are connected together.

3. In a separable fastener, the combination of two pieces of pliable material each formed of a plurality of plies of material, one or more separate stud elements each having an approximately flat base securedy between two adjacent plies of one Ipiece and with a headed shank projecting from the edge of thepiece to engage a complemental fastener element, one or more separate socket fastener elements between two plies of the other piece of material, each having. a spring socket having a mouth opening between the edges of said plies to receive and interlock with the engaging portion of the complemental fastener element, said socket element having shoulders at opposite sides of said socket mouth, and stitches penetrating said two plies of said piece of material in juxtaposition to said shoulders and adjacent the edges of said plies at opposite sides of said mouth to draw the edges of said plies snugly about the mouth of the socket element to form a gap between said edges of vsaid plies and to hold socket elements in one continuous operation upon 1 relative rotation of the stud and socket elementsabout axes disposed approximately longitudinally of the shanks of the stud elements by oppositely directed forces exerted on the edges of said pieces of material in directions at angles tothe planes of the pieces.

4. The separable fastener set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said pieces of material includes a. face ply having an edge portion turned under and at least one other ply and said bases of said stud elements and said socket elements are secured between said turned under edge portions and said other plies of the respective pieces of material,` and the last-mentioned means comprises stitches penetrating said edge portions and said other plies and free of said face ply whereby no stitches are visible on said face ply. v

5. In a fastener, a piece of pliable material comprising `a plurality of plies,` means securing said plies together adjacent one edge of at least` one ply to form a gap between said plies, and a flat spring socket element having a spring socket to receive and interlock with a complemental stud element,'said socket element being secured between said plies withthe mouth of said socket adjacent and opening throughsaid gap, and said w socket element having shoulders adjacent said mouth abutting said plies at the sides andv ends4 of the gap to hold the plies apart at said gap and maintain the gap freely open to receive said stud element and to hold the socket element against being pulled from between the plies when the complemental fastener elements are connectedtogether. v

. LEO ROSEMAN. 

